Printing plate mounting means for rotary press



G. W. PERRY Jan. 25, 1966 PRINTING PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRESS Filed Aug. 15, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l rliltlliivllinluiitl G. w. PERRY 3,230,876

PRINTING PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRESS Jan. 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1965 George W Per/y By du5m, W EM 5!.

AYYUMEYS Jan. 25, 1966 G. w. PERRY 3,230,876

PRINTING PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRESS Filed Aug. 15, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR George W per/"y BY Mafimsm, xQ/ada ATTOR/VEYS Jan. 25, 1966 w. PERRY 3,230,876

PRINTING PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRESS Filed Aug. 15, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 r 4,, I157 9 ga I 447 I 3| MENTOR Gearge W efry 7JL 502, v 7% ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,230,876 PRINTING PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FUR RGTARY PRESS George W. Perry, 366 N. Michigan Ave., Ghicago, Ill. Filed Aug. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 302,265 11 Claims. (Cl. 101 173) The present invention relates generally to an improved printing system and, more particularly, it relates to a printing system which is particularly adapted for nonrepetitive printing in extended lengths.

There are many well known printing systems in the printing art, but such systems have not been generally adapted for the continuous printing of non-repetitive printed matter in extended lengths. The known printing systems usually provide a solid printing roll on the surface of which is the subject matter to be printed and this printing roll is of relatively small diameter. There has not been available equipment for continuous printing of non-repetitive material in extended lengths. Generally, the largest available printing equipment has been capable of only providing printing of sheets up to twelve feet in length.

In general, the maximum printing lengths have been restricted by the ability to provide accurate roundness of printing rolls and the printing art has not generally tried to achieve extended non-repetitive printing lengths in the present systems which are available.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide an improved printing system. It is a further object of the invention to provide improved apparatus and methods in a novel printing system.

It is a still further object of this invention to permit the printing of extended lengths of non-repetitive material on a continuous basis. An additional object of the invention is the provision of accurate reproduction of extended lengths of printed subject matter.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a more economical printing system which is capable of high quality reproduction, which system maybe either small or large.

Still further objects and advantages of this invention Will be apparent by reference to the foilowing drawings and accompanying description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of the printing system of the invention particularly illustrating one series of stations;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of a portion of the apparatus, partially broken away, generally illustrating supporting means, the assembly being shown partially broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View of a portion of the printing plate assembly illustrating a support arrangement for the printing plate;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of a backing tracking arrangement utilized in the invention and generally shown in FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the backing tracking arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 5.

As shown in the drawings, the printing system of the invention generally includes a printing plate assembly 9 which carries an elongated printing plate 11, suitably marked with intelligence, to be reproduced. The printing system further includes an inking station 13 and a printing station which functions to pick up intelligence from the plate 11 and reproduce the printed matter on paper 17. The system of the invention may further include a de-inking station 19, but this station may be 3,230,876 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 eliminated in some embodiments of the invention and, in this connection, the de-inking station may not be used in smaller apparatus of the invention. Following the deinking station, an air drying station 21 may be provided but, here again the air drying station may be eliminated in smaller apparatus of the invention. Generally an air drying station 21 will be provided in apparatus utilizing a de-inking station 19. As shown in the drawings, the stations 13, 15, 1a and 21 are disposed outside the periphery of the printing plate assembly 9.

One or more inking stations 13 and printing stations 15 may be disposed around the printing plate assembly 9 and this will particularly be advantageous in larger embodiments of the invention. Similarly, additional de-inking stations 19 and air drying stations 21 may be disposed about the printing plate assembly 9 following the printing stations 15, if desired.

The printing plate assembly 9 of the invention, as before pointed out, includes the plate 11 which is mounted on a rotatable framing 23 which is carried on a shaft 25, which may be hollow. The shaft 25 is fixedly disposed in blocks 2! mounted on suitable posts 29. The posts 29 may be adjusted in height by hydraulic, mechanical or electrical means (not shown). Radially disposed support means 31 is journalled onto the shaft 235 by means of bearings 33. The radially disposed support means 31 carries at its periphery a printing plate support means 35 (FIGURE 4).

The printing plate support means 35 is adapted to provide tension in an axial direction on the printing plate 11. The printing plate support means 35 includes a printing plate backing member 37 on which the printing plate 11 is mounted. The printing plate backing member 37 is connected to tensioning means 39 which connects to a block assembly 41 carried at the periphery of the radially disposed support means 31 of the rotatable framing 23. The block assembly 41 includes screws 42 for positioning the printing plate support means 35. The tensioning means 39 is connected at one end to the adjustable block assembly 41 and may be connected at the other end to the printing plate backing member 37 by suitable means, such as between bands 43 and tracking guides 44, illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

The tracking guides 44 are on the rotatable framing 23 and comprise rims shaped to engage rollers to be hereinafter described.

The tensioning means 39, which may be an elastic material or other tension-in element, aids in providing proper alignment of the printing plate 11, and as will hereinafter appear, permits improved reproduction at the printing station 15. Thus, the tensioning means 39 permits movement of the backing member 37 in response to guiding of the tracking guides 44- so that the apparatus of the invention can compensate for dimensional variations inherent in the apparatus.

The printing plate assembly 9, in addition to the rotatable framing 23, further includes a fixed framing 45. As illustrated in the drawings, the fixed framing includes a sleeve 47 which is fixedly positioned on the shaft 25. The sleeve may be adjusted, as desired, to provide proper positioning of the fixed framing 45. The sleeve 47 carries, in the ilustrated embodiment, a series of radially extending arms 49, or other radially extending elements, which carry at their periphery mounting means 51, which comprise rails in the ilustrated embodiment.

As shown, the mounting means 51 on the fixed framing carries a series of circumferentially disposed backing tracking units 53 which are generally similar and which are disposed at the inking station 13 and printing station 15. Backing tracking stations may also be desirably located at the de-inking station 19 and air drying station 21, if used.

The backing tracking units 53 each comprise a roller 55 which is positioned to engage and press against the printing plate backing member 37. The roller 55 is so positioned and dimensioned as to accurately position the printing plate 11 relative in the inking station 13 and particularly in the printing station 15. The roller 55 is adjustably mounted to provide the desired positioning in the printing system of the invention. In this connection, suitable conventional means may be provided for mounting of the roller to provide proper engagement with the printing plate backing member 37.

In addition to the roller 55, which provides a backing, the backing tracking unit 53 may include tracking rollers 57 and 59 which are located on the fixed framing 45 forwardly and rearwardly of the backing roller 55. in the illustrated embodiment, these rollers 57 and 59 are carried on brackets 61 and suitably journalled thereon. The brackets 61 are bolted to the mounting means 51 of the fixed framing 45. The tracking rollers 57 and 59 are in position to engage the printing plate backing member 37 and are formed at their edges to engage the tracking guides 44 (as shown at all in FIGURE 6) to thereby guide the printing plate 11 to and from the backing roller 55.

The backing roller 55, and tracking rollers 57 and 59, may be driven on the fixed framing 45. As is shown in FIGURE 5, the backing roller 55 and tracking rollers 57 and 59 are connected to sprockets d3, 65 and 67, respectively, which are driven by means of a chain d9. The chain 69 travels over a drive sprocket 71 which is driven by a motor 73. The motor 73 is mounted on the brackets 61 on the fixed framing 45, as shown in the drawings. The peripheral speeds of the backing roller 55 and tracking rollers 57 and 59 are synchronized with the speed of the printing plate 11.

Each backing tracking unit 53 may co-act with a tracking element (not shown) disposed outwardly of'the rotatable framing 23. In such event, the bands 43 would be replaced by tracking guides and the tracking element would comprise rollers which are positioned to co-act with these tracking guides.

The rotatable framing 23 has drive means 75 connected thereto, whereby the printing plate supporting means and the printing plate 11 mounted thereon are moved through the stations 13, 15, 19 and 21. The drive means 75 and the connecting means to the rotatable framing may be provided within the skill of the mechanical art and are not particularly shown in the drawings. In this connection, the drive means 75 may comprise a motor mounted within the shaft 25 and coupled with the bearings 33 to cause the rotatable framing 23 to revolve. As before indicated, the drive means 75 will be synchronized with the motor 73 so that the backing rollers 55 and tracking rollers 57 and 59 have the same peripheral speed as the printing plate 11 carried on the rotatable framing 23.

The backing roller 55 desirably has a resilient surface which may be provided by a solid roller having resilient material on its surface or by an inflatable roller of resilient material. The tracking rollers 57 and 59 may also be provided with resilient material on their surface, but, generally, they will not be inflatable or have a particularly soft surface. In this connection, the tracking rollers 57 and 59 shown in the drawings have a thin coating of resilient material.

As before pointed out, the backing tracking units 53 are provided at the inking station 13 and are particularly located at the printing station 15 and are of generally similar construction. Accordingly, in the drawings, parts are similarly numbered in the respective backing tracking units 53, but are differentiated by the symbol prime or double prime etc.

The inking station 13 may comprise any usual ink applying arrangement and, as shown in the drawings, includes a tank 77 in which is disposed a pick-up roller 79 and an applicating roller 81. It will be understood that usual doctoring or metering means may be used in conjunction with the rollers, but such means are not shown in the drawings. The applicating roller 81 is aligned with a backing tracking unit 53 and co-acts with the backing roller 55' for purposes of uniformly applying ink to the printing plate 11. The center of the applicating roller 81 is located along a line of centers of the rotatable framing 23 and the backing roller 55'.

The printing station 15 is associated with the backing tracking unit 53 and the printing plate 11 on the printing plate assembly 9. The printing station 15 comprises a transfer means 83 which is adapted to pick up the intelligence on the printing plate 11 and carry it to the paper 17. As shown in the drawings, the transfer means 83 comprises a blanket belt 85 which is trained around rollers S7 and 89. However, it will be understood that the transfer means may merely comprise a transfer roll (not shown) in place of the blanket belt 85 illustrated in the drawings.

The transfer means 83 may be eliminated so that the printing plate 11 prints directly onto the paper 17. However, if such arrangement is provided, the printing plate 11 must be a letter press or gravure plate and plate life may be reduced.

The paper 17 is provided from a feed roll 91 which is trained over a printing roll 93 and wound onto a pickup roll 95. The roll 93 is so disposed as to cause the paper 17 to contact the transfer means 83, as shown in the drawings. a

In order to dry the ink on the paper, an ink dried unit 9-5 is positioned along the run of the paper 17 ahead of the pickup roll 95.

Suitable drive means (not shown) are provided for the transfer means 33 and the paper 17 so that the speed of the paper 17 and transfer means 83 are synchronized with the speed of the printing plate 11.

As before pointed out, a de-inking station 19 is desirably used in conjunction with larger embodiments of this invention. As shown in the drawings, the de-inking station is located after the printing station 15 and includes a well 97 which contains a suitable de-inking material which is usually a solvent for the ink. A belt 99 travels through the solvent in the well 97 and applies the solvent to and removes ink from the printing plate 11.

As shown in the drawings, the belt 99 is trained over guide rollers 101, 163 and 1115 and through squeeze rolls 107 and 109. The belt 99-then travels over. a roll 111 which presses the belt against the printing plate 11. As before indicated, a backing tracking unit 53 is desirably located to co-act with the roll 111.

Following the de-inking station, there may be provided an air drying station 21 which is adapted to remove any excess solvent applied at the de-inking station 19. The air drying station may comprise a blower for heated air or may include a wiping arrangement particularly adapted for removing solvent from the printing plate 11.

In the operation of the apparatus of the invention, the printing plate 11 is first prepared by suitable means to provide the desired intelligence on the surface of the plate. Tlrinting plate 11 is then fixedly attached to the-printing plate backing member 37 carried on the rotatable framing 23. The rotatable framing 23 is actuated by the drive means tocause the printing plate to enter the inking station 13 wherein the applicating roller 81 applies ink onto the printing plate 11. The applicating roller 81 engages the outer surface of the plate and simultaneously the back-ing roller 55' of the backing tracking unit 53 engages the printing plate backing member 37. The backing roller 55' is fixedly positioned on the fixed framing 45 so as to cause uniform contact between the printing plate 11 and the applicating roller 81, thereby applying a uniform film of ink onto the printing plate 11.

The tracking rollers 57 and 59' engage the tracking guides 44 to guide the printing plate 11 to the backing roller 55 in proper position. The tensioning means 39 permits the adjustable positioning of the printing plate 11 by the tracking rollers 57 and 59'.

The printing plate travels from the inking station 13 to the printing station 15 wherein the printing plate 11 is pressed between the backing roller 55 of the backing tracking unit 53 and the transfer means 83. A reproduction of the printing plate 11 is picked up onto the transfer means 83.

The backing roller 55 and transfer means 83 are so positioned that the plate 11 is impressed into the transfer means 83. When a letter press plate is used, from .001 to .004of an inch impression is effected. The impression is carried by the transfer means 83 over to the paper 17whereon'it is printed at the roll 93. The printed sheet travels through the ink drier. unit 96 and is wound onto the pickup roll 95. Y

The tracking rollers 57 and 59 engage the tracking guide 44 to guide the plate 11, as pointed out previously in connection with rollers 57' and 59'.

In the event that the de-inking station 19 and air dryingstatlon 21 are employed, the printing plate 11 then travels to the de-inking station 19 and passes between the roll 111 and the backing roller 55". The belt 99 passes over the printing plate 11 applying solvent and removing any residual ink which may remain on the plate. At the air drying station 21, the printing plate may be blown with hot air to remove any solvent remaining upon the plate.

As before indicated, the same steps may be carried out at other stations around the periphery of the printing plate assembly '9, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The co-action between the various backing rollers in the inking and printing stations 13 and 15 permits the use of large printing systems of the invention and through their adjustment relative to the elements of the printing and inking stations high qualitiy inking and printing can be accomplished in accord with this invention. The tracking rollers 57 and 59, in cooperation with the printing plate supporting means 35, further aids in providing the high quality inking and printing.

:It will be seen that the system of the invention can be readily made in large or small size and that apparatus can be readily provided for printing. Furthermore, it will be seen that many different patterns can be provided on the printing plate 11 and that a large number of continuous non-repetitive patterns can be printed on the plate. Furthermore, the system of the invention is adapted to high speed printing and can be employed in providing process-color printing.

Various of the features of the present invention which are believed to be new are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing system, an elongated printing plate, a rotatable framing, tensioning means for movably mounting said printing plate on said rotatable framing, guide means connected to said tensioning means and actuating said tensioning means during rotation of said rotatable framing, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framing and positioned on one side of said printing plate, a second roller being positioned on the other side of said printing plate, said backing roller and said second roller pressing together against said printing plate.

2. In a printing system, an elongated printing plate, a rotatable framing, means for mounting said printing plate on said rotatable framing, said mounting means including tensioning means connected between said printing plate and said rotatable framing whereby said printing plate can move relative to said rotatable framing,

guide means connected to said tensioning means and actuating said tensioning means during rotation of said rotatable framing, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framing and positioned on one side of said printing plate, means for supporting a print receiving sheet, a second roller over which said sheet is trained, said second roller being positioned on the other side of said printing plate, said printing plate and said sheet simultaneously passing between said backing roller and said second roller.

3. In a printing system, an elongated printing plate, a rotatable framing, means for mounting said printing plate on said rotatable framing, said mounting means including elastic tensioning means connected between said printing plate and said rotatable framing whereby said printing plate can move relative to said rotatable framing, guide means connected to said tensioning means and actuating said tensioning means during rotation of said rotatable framing, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framing and positioned on one side of said printing plate, a tracking roller on said fixed framing positioned on said one sideof said printing plate adjacent said backing roller to guide said printing plate, a print receiving sheet, a second roller over which said sheet is trained, said second roller being positioned on the other side of said printing plate, said printing plate and said sheet simultaneously passing between said backing roller and said second roller.

4. In a printing system, an elongated printing plate, a rotatable framing, means for mountingsaid printing plate on said rotatable framing, said mounting means including tensioning means connected between said printing plate and said rotatable framing whereby said printing plate can move relative to said rotatable framing, tracking guides adjacent said printing plate and connected to said tensioning means whereby said tracking guides may aline said printing plate, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framing and positioned on one side of said printing plate, a tracking roller on said fixed framing positioned on said one side of said printing plate adjacent said backing roller to guide said printing plate, said tracking roller being in engagement with said tracking guides, means for supporting a print receiving sheet, a second roller over which said sheet is trained, said second roller being positioned on the other side of said printing plate, said printing plate and said sheet passing between said backing roller and said second roller.

5. In a printing system, an elongated printing plate, a rotatable framing, tensioning means for movably mounting said printing plate on said rotatable framing, guide means connected to said tensioning means and actuating said tensioning means during rotation of said rotatable framing, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framing and positioned on one side of said printing plate, transfer means, said transfer means being positionedon the other side of said printing plate, said transfer means and said backing roller pressing against opposite sides of said printing plate, means for supporting a sheet of paper to be printed, and a roller postioned to press said sheet of paper against said transfer means.

6. In a printing system, an elongated printing plate, a rotatable framing, means for mounting said printing plate on said rotatable framing, said mounting means including tensioning means connected between said printing plate and said rotatable framing whereby said printing plate can move relative to said rotatable framing, tracking guides adjacent said printing plate and connected to said tensioning means whereby said tracking guides may aline said printing plate, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framing and positioned on one side of said printing plate, a pair of tracking rollers on said fixed framing positioned on said one side of said printing plate adjacent said backing roller to guide said printing plate to and from said backing roller, one of said tracking rollers being positioned ahead of said backing roller and the other of said tracking rollers being positioned behind said backing roller, means for supporting a paper sheet to be printed, 21 second roller over which said paper sheet is trained, said second roller being positioned on the other side of said printing plate, said printing plate and said paper passing between said backing roller and said second roller.

7. In a printing system, an elongated printing plate, a rotatable framing, means for mounting said printing plate on said rotatable framing, said mounting means including tensioning means connected between said printing plate and said rotatable framing whereby said printing plate can move relative to said rotatable framing, said tensioning means comprising elastic members, tracking guides adjacent said printing plate and connected to said tensioning means whereby said tracking guides may aline said printing plate, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framin and positioned on one side of said printing plate, a pair of tracking rollers on said fixed framing positioned on said one side of said printing plate adjacent said backing roller to guide said printing plate to and from said backing roller, one of said tracking rollers being positioned ahead of said backing roller and the other of said tracking rollers being positioned behind said backing roller, means for supporting a paper sheet to be printed, a second roller over which said paper sheet is trained, said second roller being positioned on the other side of said printing plate, said printing plate and said paper passing between said backing roller and said second roller.

8. In a printing system, an elongated printing plate, a rotatable framing, tensioning means for movably mounting said printing plate on said rotatable framing, a tracking guide on said rotatable framing adjacent one edge of said printing plate and connected to said tensioning means whereby said printing plate may be moved during rotation of said rotatable framing, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framing and positioned on one side of said printing plate, a tracking roller on said fixed framing adjacent said backing roller and positioned to engage said tracking guide, a second roller positioned on the other side of said printing plate, said backing roller and said second roller pressing against one another.

9. In a printing system, an elongated printing plate, a rotatable framing, elastic tensioning means for mounting said printing plate on said rotatable framing, tracking guides on said rotatable framing adjacent each edge of said printing plate and connected to said tensioning means whereby said printing plate may be moved during rotation of said rotatable framing, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framing and positioned on one side of said printing plate, a pair of tracking rollers on said fixed framing, each tracking roller being adjacent said backing roller and positioned to engage sa:d tracking guides, one of said tracking rollers being positioned ahead of and the other of said tracking rollers being positioned behind said backing roller, a second roller positioned on the other side ofsaid printing plate, said backing roller and said second roller pressing against one another.

ill. In a printing system, an elongated printing. plate, a rotatable framing, elastic tensioning means for movably mounting said printing plate on said rotatable framing, said mounting means including tensioning means connected between said printing plate and said rotatable framing, tracking guides on said rotatable framing adjacent each edge of said printing plate and connected to said tensioning means whereby said printing plate may be moved during rotation of said rotatable framing, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framing and positioned on one side of said printing plate, a pair of tracking rollers on said fixed framing, each tracking roller being adjacent said backing roller and positioned to engage said tracking guides, one of said tracking rollers being positioned ahead of and the other of said tracking rollers being positioned behind said backing roller, a second roller positioned on the'other side of said printing plate, said backing roller and said second roller pressing against one another.

11. In a printing system, an elongated printing plate, a rotatable framing, means for mounting said printing plate on said rotatable framing, said mounting means including tensioning means connected between said printing plate and said rotatable framing, said tensioning means comprising elastic material, tracking guides on said rotatable framing adjacent each edge of said printing plate and connected to said tensioning means whereby said printing plate may be moved during rotation of said rotatable framing, a fixed framing, a backing roller mounted on said fixed framing and positioned on one References Cited by the Examiner 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,397,053 3/1946 Schneider 101-137 2,788,738 4/1957 Wood l01l71 2,841,080 7/58 Viscardi 101-178 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A PRINTING SYSTEM, AN ELONGATED PRINTING PLATE, A ROTATABLE FRAMING, TENSIONING MEANS FOR MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID PRINTING PLATE ON SAID ROTATABLE FRAMING, GUIDE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TENSIONING MEANS AND ACTUATING SAID TENSIONING MEANS DURING ROTATION OF SAID ROTATABLE FRAMING, A FIXED FRAMING, A BACKING ROLLER MOUNTED ON SAID FIXED FRAMING AND POSITIONED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID PRINTING PLATE, A SECOND ROLLER BEING POSITIONED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PRINTING PLATE, SAID BACKING ROLLER AND SAID SECOND ROLLER PRESSING TOGETHER AGAINST SAID PRINTING PLATE. 